OMG, They Killed (the Original) Rickroll!

[meegbear]

Wanna Rickroll someone? No problem, there are thousands of copies of the video of Rick Astley’s legendary song, “Never Gonna Give You Up,” on the Internet. However, if you want to use the original Rickroll video, which should be located here, you’ll be greeted by an ugly message: This video has been removed due to terms of use violation.

Rickrolling, in case you haven’t been online between early 2008 and now, is the practice of tricking someone into opening the aforementioned video, and it’s considered to be one of the most popular Internet memes of all time.

Yes, it’s a popular and copyrighted song, but it’s also been viewed millions of times precisely because it became such a popular online meme. How removing it from YouTube will help copyright owners is a mystery to me. Props to Neowin for noticing this one.

http://mashable.com/2010/02/24/they-killed-rickroll/

[nemo137]

1. I clicked on your link hoping it was an elaborate Rickroll.

Imagine my horror when it wasn't!

[Barack_America]

2. The Rickroll is also the only reason that song makes money any more.

You could argue that the internets effectively own it now.

[KittyWampus]

9. Rick Astley was on a float singing the song in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2 years ago.

stupid corporate schmucks.

[Jamastiene]

3. Don't the copyright owners realize no one would ever voluntarily

listen to that drivel without being tricked into it? Their last hope of making any royalties off that horrible, wretched song just died with their own zero tolerance bullshit policy toward fair use. I hope they are happy with themselves. x(

[superduperfarleft]

4. Good riddance. Rickrolls stopped being funny years ago. n/t

[skypilot]

7. I agree.

I would only differ to say that I NEVER thought it was funny. I only had it happen to me a few times--including once here at DU--but I always thought it was annoying--especially the one time where I couldn't close the damned thing out. Every time I tried to close it out, the video would just start all over again. I ended up having to shut down and reboot my computer. Good riddance, indeed.

[superduperfarleft]

11. I think the idea is funny.

But like with most things that popular culture co-opts from 4chan (LOLcats, Epic Fail, etc.), it quickly stops being as funny or clever as it originally was.

I just hope they don't ruin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwyC2PW3vc8">Interior Crocodile Alligator for me.

[Warren DeMontague]

13. If enough people find the concept annoying

people like me will decide it's funny again.

[Alexander]

5. I predict that this video will replace the Rickroll.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-NOZU2iPA8

[Viking12]

10. Maybe. This version is more entertaining, however,...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J54s1FSwLU

[GoneOffShore]

12. Arghhh - I lost ten IQ points in 10 seconds before I hit the stop button

Thanks!

:sarcasm:

That was awful!

[KittyWampus]

6. It's all about control and the illusion of control.

[Poker Player]

8. I would rather be Rick Rolled, than Lemon Partied

That is just hideous